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October 15, 2005
Indonesia: jihadists attack Catholics praying rosary
Topics: Understanding IslamMore ISLAMIC terrorism and persecution of non-Muslims in an Islamic country! From the article in Asia Times comes yet another story of Christian persecution by a radical Islamic group:
The attack took place on 11 October in a private house. Armed men broke in and threatened to burn the place down if the prayer went ahead. Fears are rising about further violence against Indonesian believers.
A group composed of Islamic extremists attacked Catholics praying the rosary on 11 October and threatened to burn down the house they were gathered in. The assailants, who claimed to be part of the Islamic Defender Front (Front Pembela Islam, FPI), invaded the house of one of the Catholic community belonging to the parish of Christ Salvator in western Jakarta.
The men forced the marian prayer to stop immediately, threatening to burn the place down. They forced all those present including the Ketua Lingkungan (informal parish leader - ed. note) to sign a declaration that they will not hold any more rosary gatherings in houses in the area.
The attack has fuelled fears and apprehension among Indonesian Catholics who fear further possible hostile moves from the FPI. The front is also behind the closure of 24 home-churches in western Java.
For Catholics all over the world, including those in Indonesia, October and May are months dedicated especially to the Virgin Mary. In Indonesia, believers manifest their faith by undertaking pilgrimages to the country's Marian shrines and by reciting the rosary in parishes.
Meeting to recite the rosary together, better known as Doa Rosario Bersama, is usually organised once a week in one of the houses of the community.
The head of Front Pembela Islam is Muhammad Rizieq, who has this to say about peace and tolerance:
Muhammad Rizieq, the head of Front Pembela Islam, studied in the Middle East and became a traveling preacher, trader, and political activist, much like Muklas and the strangers who infiltrated Pemogon. He and Bashir, the radical cleric, are pictured together on posters in poor, strictly religious areas, and he expresses, with fire and clarity, the radical philosophy that Indonesian moderates and Bush Administration policymakers are up against.Related articles:
"If Americans die in Afghanistan and Iraq, it makes me happy," Rizieq says during a conversation in the compound that serves as his home, shop, and classroom in a lower-middle-class neighborhood in Jakarta, the Indonesian capital. "In New York, too. This is the will of God. ... I tell other Muslims that if a Muslim with a nuclear bomb can, he should commit suicide in America."
Rizieq advocates physical destruction of nightclubs and other centers of sinful behavior. He also urges immediate implementation of the harshest interpretations of Islamic law, such as cutting off the hands of thieves. Moderate groups "prefer dialogue and discussion with America," he says. "FPI prefers war. The language of the World Trade Center is the best way to talk to America."
08/26/2005 INDONESIA - Indonesian politicians defend Christians in West Java ...
06/15/2005 INDIA - Convent attacked, nuns held overnight
10/3/2005 TURKMENISTAN - "Continual" violations of freedom of worship in ...
09/5/2005 PAKISTAN - The Supreme Court annuls Islamic law
08/25/2005 INDIA - India's Supreme Court postpones hearing on Christian ...
Posted by Richard at October 15, 2005 1:09 AM
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Comments
Your article is an alarmist tract. Why worry about Jihadists attacking people worshipping another god than Allah in far-away place like Indianesia. It will be years before they will be attacking anyone in North America. We have plenty of time to relax and watch the Jihadists murder others.
Posted by: walt at October 16, 2005 8:53 PM
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